Factors involved in recovery from schizophrenia: a qualitative study of Thai mental health nurses

Recovery-oriented services increasingly are being called for around the world. These services do not just consider recovery from mental illness as symptom remission, but as individuals’ ability to redefine their self and to “live well”, even with enduring symptoms. However, little is known about the views of Thai nurses regarding the conceptualization of recovery. This article presents the findings of a qualitative study that explored the perspectives of 24 Thai nurses regarding schizophrenia and recovery. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nurses who were providing care for persons who were living with schizophrenia in both hospital and community settings.A thematic analysis identified the personal and environmental factors that were related to recovery. Illness acceptance, hope, and adherence to treatment were viewed as the facilitators of recovery, while a low level of self-responsibility and illness-related factors were barriers. Environmental factors, such as the presence of a supportive environment and accessibility to mental health services, were described as facilitators, while stigma towards mental health illness and fragmented health services were barriers. The implications of these results in promoting recovery-oriented mental health services in Thailand are discussed.